FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 14, 2019

ASBESTOS COURT DECISION AFFIRMS NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE EPA RISK ASSESSMENT

San Francisco, CA–– The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), the largest asbestos-victim advocacy organization, released the following statement today after the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wrongly excluded legacy uses and disposal from its Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) evaluations, including for asbestos.

“Today, the court thankfully affirmed that the EPA must consider the danger of legacy asbestos in buildings across America,” said Linda Reinstein, President and co-founder, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. “It is outrageous that the EPA has stalled on this common sense measure to protect Americans. Our children and teachers should not be exposed to deadly asbestos.” 

“EPA no longer has an excuse for failing to follow the plain language of the law and must immediately revamp its asbestos risk evaluation to address the large public health impacts of the legacy asbestos found in buildings and landfills across the country,” said Robert M. Sussman, Counsel to ADAO. 

“Congress must pass the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act to do the job the EPA hasn’t done, and protect all Americans from toxic asbestos once and for all,”  Reinstein continued. 

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